AN ACT INCREASING THE INSURANCE BENEFITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFORE

Eighth Congress

REPUBLIC ACT No. 6942             April 4, 1990

AN ACT INCREASING THE INSURANCE BENEFITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFORE

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Coverage of the Act. – Every punong barangay, sangguniang barangay member, chairman of the kabataang barangay, barangay secretary and barangay treasurer, and every member of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, and sangguniang bayan, duly elected or appointed, and duly qualified, who does not receive a fixed salary during his incumbency, shall be automatically covered by this Act: provided, that the moment said official receives a fixed salary whether in the same capacity or by virtue of a permanent appointment in any other government office, or by election to another public office, his coverage under this Act shall automatically cease and shall then be covered under the appropriate law. Any of the abovementioned local officials who shall automatically lose coverage or cease to be covered by this Act by virtue of termination or resignation from office for any lawful cause shall have the option to continue the coverage by paying the required premiums thereon.

Section 2. Death and Burial Benefits. – In the event of death of an insured official during this incumbency, the beneficiaries of a punong barangay or a member of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan shall be entitled to Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) while the beneficiaries of a member of sangguniang barangay, barangay secretary, barangay treasurer or chairman of the kabataang barangay, shall be entitled to Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00).n addition to the death benefits herein provided, a burial benefit of Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) shall be paid to the beneficiaries within twenty-four (24) hours after written notice and satisfactory proof of death.

Should a barangay chairman be assassinated or killed while in the performance of his duties or on the occasion thereof, his beneficiaries shall be entitled to double the amounts of indemnity provided above.

Section 3. Total and Permanent Incapacity or Disability. – In the event of total and permanent incapacity or disability as determined by the Government Service Insurance System, hereinafter referred to as the System, a punong barangay or a member of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang bayan shall be entitled to Twelve thousand pesos (P12,000.00) while a member of the sangguniang barangay, barangay secretary, barangay treasurer or chairman of the kabataang barangay shall be entitle to Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00): provided, that the disability occurred during his incumbency whether work-connected or not.n addition to the disability benefits herein provided, a burial benefit of Two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) shall be paid to his beneficiaries in the event that death occurs within two (2) years from the onset of total and permanent incapacity or disability.

Anyone availing of the benefits under this section cannot benefit from Sections Two, Four and Five hereof.

Section 4. Injuries Resulting from Accidents. – For injuries resulting from an accident occurring during his incumbency, whether work-connected or not, a punong barangay or a member of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, or sangguniang bayan shall be entitled to the following benefits which in no case shall exceed the maximum benefit of Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) per covered year;

Section 5. Injuries Resulting from Accident of other Barangay Officials. – For injuries resulting from an accident occurring during his incumbency, whether work-connected or not, a member of the sangguniang barangay, barangay secretary, barangay treasurer or chairman of the kabataang barangay shall be entitled to the following benefits which in no case shall exceed the maximum benefit of Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) per covered year:

Section 6. Responsibility for Payment of Premiums. – For all the insurance benefits provided in the preceding sections, the national government of the Republic of the Philippines shall appropriate annually and include in the General Appropriations Act the total annual premiums based on the actual number of local officials covered under Section One hereof and as certified by the Department of Local Government. The annual premiums, unless later on adjusted in accordance with the provisions of this section, shall be Two hundred forty-seven pesos (P247.00) for every punong barangay and member of the sangguniang panlalawigan, sangguniang panlungsod, or sangguniang bayan, and Sixty-two pesos (P62.00) for every member of the sangguniang barangay, barangay secretary, barangay treasurer and chairman of the kabataang barangay. The entire appropriation for the payments of the foregoing total annual premiums shall be released to the Government Service Insurance System during the first month of every calendar year. The System shall conduct periodic actuarial studies to determine the adequacy of the contribution as provided herein. Based on such studies, the premiums may be adjusted and the total annual premiums based on the adjusted premium rates as certified by the System shall likewise be provided for in the General Appropriations Act for every applicable year thereafter.

Section 7. Disqualification from Benefits. – No benefit shall be given to an insured official or his beneficiaries when the injury, sickness, disability or death was occasioned or caused by any of the following:

Section 8. Processing of Claims. – All claims for payment pursuant to the provisions of this Act shall, with the assistance of the local government officer concerned, be processed and settled within thirty (30) days at the nearest Government Service Insurance System branch from submission of all the required documents to the System.

Section 9. Rules and Regulations. – Within one (1) month after the effectivity of this act, the System, jointly with the Department of Local Government, shall prescribe and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary for the proper implementation of this Act.

Section 10. Repealing Clause. – Any and all acts, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or part or parts thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 11. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect upon its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved: April 4, 1990